The Historical Origins and Causes of Urban Decentralization in the United States

Publication Date: January 5, 2002

Author(s):

Alexander von Hoffman

John Felknew

W02-1: Over the last three decades the phenomenon known as urban or suburban sprawl has become the subject of enormous controversy. Critics have condemned unwanted urban growth as wasteful and unsightly. They charged that sprawl destroys the natural environment, causes traffic congestion, undermines a sense of community, and contributes to decay and concentration of poverty in inner-city neighborhoods. To prevent unwanted development, planners and government officials have proposed and in a few cases implemented such measures as "managed growth," "smart growth," and New Urbanist town plans…

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